Associate Director - Engineering Operations

Cheltenham
9 months ago
Applications closed

Related Jobs

View all jobs

Duty Engineer

Safety Assurance Manager - Avionics

Research Associate: Exoplanetary & Stellar Spectroscopy

Crop Modelling Research Associate – AgriPV & Remote Sensing

Mechanical Power and Propulsion Engineer

Mechanical Power And Propulsion Engineer

Associate Director - Engineering Operations

Location: Cheltenham

About the Role:

Belcan is seeking a highly skilled and experienced Associate Director to lead our Belcan Advanced Solutions engineering teams. This dynamic leadership role involves managing day-to-day operations, ensuring project delivery, and driving innovation within the Cheltenham team for both Engineering and Manufacturing that covers both mechanical and electronic test equipment from concept to prototype to delivery. The Associate Director will support, develop, and deploy the strategic objectives of the organisation, fostering collaboration across departments and ensuring the achievement of key performance goals.

Key Responsibilities:

Lead and manage the day-to-day operation of engineering and manufacturing teams, ensuring projects are delivered on time, within budget, and to the highest quality standards.
Develop and implement operational processes and best practices to improve team performance and efficiency.
Collaborate with project managers and team leaders to address capacity challenges and meet delivery timelines.
Support recruitment, onboarding, training, and engagement of engineering staff to build high-performing teams.
Drive the adoption of advanced tools, methodologies, and technologies to improve engineering productivity and innovation.
Foster a culture of innovation and continuous learning within the engineering teams.
Motivate teams by setting clear goals, providing direction, and recognizing achievements.

Specific Requirements:

Deep understanding of engineering principles, manufacturing processes, and industry-specific technologies within a test systems environment for automotive and aerospace clients.
Familiarity with Lean, Six Sigma, or other operational excellence methodologies to drive efficiency and quality.
Knowledge of industry regulations, standards, and safety protocols.
Continuously seeks opportunities to improve processes, reduce waste, and enhance efficiency.
Promotes a strong safety culture, ensuring all operations adhere to health and safety standards.
Ensures that manufactured products meet or exceed quality standards, enhancing customer satisfaction and brand reputation.

Qualifications:

Bachelor's degree (or equivalent) in engineering, business administration, or a related professional field; MBA or advanced degree preferred.
Significant demonstrable experience in strategy, business development, leadership, or organizational roles within the services industry.

Why Join Belcan?

You will join a collaborative company that puts people at the heart of everything we do. As well as career development and a friendly and collaborative team, you will benefit from:

Company Pension scheme
Generous holiday allowance
Health assurance
Electric Car scheme
…and much more.

Application Process:

Ready to take the next step in your career as a Belcan Associate Director? Apply now and become a part of Belcan's innovative and dynamic team!

About Belcan:

Belcan, a Cognizant company, is a global force in technical services and engineering consultancy. Our legacy is built on delivering high-quality outputs and our unwavering commitment to developing the next generation of technical consultants and specialist engineers. Our expertise is vast, spanning across various engineering industries including aerospace, defence, marine, nuclear, automotive, and cyber security.

This vacancy is being advertised by Belcan

Subscribe to Future Tech Insights for the latest jobs & insights, direct to your inbox.

By subscribing, you agree to our privacy policy and terms of service.

Industry Insights

Discover insightful articles, industry insights, expert tips, and curated resources.

The Skills Gap in UK Space Jobs: What Universities Aren’t Teaching

The UK space sector is one of the most exciting and fastest-growing high-tech industries in the world. From Earth observation and satellite communications to space robotics, launch systems and deep-space exploration, the breadth of opportunity is enormous. The UK Government’s ambition to capture a significant share of the global space economy has driven investment, policy support and a wave of innovative companies — both established and start-up. Yet despite strong academic programmes and a pipeline of graduates with relevant degrees, employers in the UK space sector consistently report a persistent problem: Many graduates are not prepared for real-world space industry jobs. This is not a matter of intelligence or motivation. Rather, it reflects a growing skills gap between what universities are teaching and what employers actually need from space professionals. In this article, we’ll explore why that gap exists, what universities are doing well, where they fall short, what employers want, and how jobseekers can bridge the divide to build thriving careers in the UK space sector.

UK Space Jobs for Career Switchers in Their 30s, 40s & 50s (UK Reality Check)

The UK space sector is no longer a niche reserved for astronauts and rocket scientists. It is a broad, fast-growing industry covering satellites, Earth observation, navigation, telecoms, space data, launch services, space sustainability and defence-related capability. That breadth creates genuine career opportunities for professionals switching careers in their 30s, 40s or 50s — especially in roles where delivery, quality, operations, safety, regulation and customer outcomes matter as much as pure engineering. This article gives you a UK reality check: what space jobs actually look like, which roles are realistic for career switchers, what skills UK employers value, how long retraining tends to take and whether age is a barrier (usually far less than people fear).

How to Write a Space Industry Job Ad That Attracts the Right People

The UK space sector is growing rapidly. From satellite manufacturing and launch services to Earth observation, space data, communications and downstream applications, organisations across the UK are hiring engineers, scientists, software specialists and operations professionals to support increasingly complex space missions. Yet many employers struggle to attract the right candidates. Space industry job adverts often receive very few applications, or attract candidates whose experience does not align with the realities of space programmes. At the same time, experienced space professionals frequently ignore adverts that feel vague, over-ambitious or disconnected from how space projects actually operate. In most cases, the issue is not a lack of talent — it is the clarity and quality of the job advert. Space professionals are systems-focused, risk-aware and highly selective. A poorly written job ad signals weak programme maturity and unrealistic expectations. A clear, well-written one signals credibility, technical seriousness and long-term intent. This guide explains how to write a space industry job ad that attracts the right people, improves applicant quality and positions your organisation as a credible employer in the UK space sector.